Chile: Alimentos Inocuos

FDA moves to shut down Listeria-tainted cheese facility

gfiguerog@gmail.com (Guillermo Figueroa Gronemeyer) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:30:00 +0000

The establishment will be closed until cheese became negative for the presence of Listeria
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said it intends to close down a New Jersey cheese maker in the wake of Listeria monocytogenes contamination and an alleged failure to correct unsanitary conditions at the plant.
Quesos Mi Pueblito manufactures and distributes soft, semi-soft and hard Mexican cheeses to grocery stores and supermarkets in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Florida, Virginia and the District of Columbia.
The FDA filed a complaint in the US District Court in Newark on Monday alleging that Quesos Mi Pueblito has failed to correct unsanitary conditions that were flagged up during inspections and that investigators found listeria contamination at the plant during inspections in August, September, October and November. The FDA’s complaint follows a three-year attempt by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services to help the company rid its facility of listeria monocytogenes bacteria.
Quesos Mi Pueblito issued a recall of 13 of its cheeses in August after health officials found listeria contamination during sample testing but the company has allegedly continued to produce listeria-tainted cheese.
The FDA has requested that the company and two of its officers, Felix Sanchez and Jesus Galvez, are prevented from manufacturing and distributing food until their Passaic, New Jersey facility complies with FDA food safety regulations and they “produce cheese that does not test positive for the presence of Listeria.”
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, which has been recognized as a serious public health problem in the United States and elsewere, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its figures show that around 2,500 people become seriously ill with listeriosis each year and 500 die.

FoodQualityNews.com

E coli O157:H7 outbreak at Godstone Farm in Surrey

gfiguerog@gmail.com (Guillermo Figueroa Gronemeyer) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:57:00 +0000

Four children are seriously ill in hospital
A major outbreak of E coli at a popular children's farm in Surrey that led to at least 36 people falling sick with the vomiting bug. Godstone Farm was closed yesterday as the 12 children, eight of them in a serious but stable condition, were dealing with complications arising from an infection which can lead to kidney failure, especially in the young.
They have contracted E coli O157:H7, this enterohaemorragic strain which first appeared in Britain in the 1980s and to which children and older people are especially vulnerable. Like other strains, it can be transmitted through contact with animals. The Health Protection Agency said that measures to reduce the risk of the infection spreading were put in place by the farm last week but, as more cases were reported, it had agreed to close "to enable detailed investigations into the source of the infection".
A notice on the farm's website before the closure said "a small number of cases of E coli" in children had been reported in the Surrey area." It said that animal barns and some sandpits were being closed while tests were carried out to determine whether the infection was contracted at the farm. A sister farm in Epsom, Horton Park Children's Farm, has stayed open.
Professor Hugh Pennington, an expert in bacteriology, said this was "a very large outbreak" and that E coli O157: H7 can be "quite dangerous" for young children, with around 15% suffering complications that can affect the brain, the heart and the kidneys. "The kidney complications can be quite severe, resulting in long-term damage in some instances," he said.
Source:Guardian.Co.UK

New Tests Confirm Wood Pallets Harbor Deadly Food Poisoning Bacteria

gfiguerog@gmail.com (Guillermo Figueroa Gronemeyer) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:38:00 +0000

Listeria is a frequent finding in wood pallets
In a random sampling of wood pallets used to ship food in Portland, ME, and Philadelphia, PA, numerous pallets tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes and abnormally high counts of bacteria that could potentially create health hazards for consumers. The new data bolster the findings of previous wood pallet testing conducted in the Washington-Baltimore area, further illustrating the
In Portland, five of 30 pallets tested positive for Listeria. Three of the five pallets tested positive for the most serious strain of Listeria, called Listeria monocytogenes, which is the causative agent for Listeriosis. Responsible for approximately 2,500 illnesses and 500 deaths in the United States annually, Listeriosis is the leading cause of death among food borne bacterial pathogens, with fatality rates exceeding even Salmonella spp. and Clostridium botulinum.
"There is a growing body of evidence that wood pallets pose unacceptable risks to our nation's food supply. We are sharing the data from these tests with the FDA and are once again asking the agency to conduct a comprehensive investigation and adopt appropriate measures to mitigate the risks presented by wood pallets.
New pallets should be more hygienic, easier to handle and eliminate protruding nails and splinters, reduce workplace injuries and damaged equipment. Embedded RFID tags will enable shippers and receivers to track and trace shipments. In the case of iGPS pallets they are 100% recyclable. Launched in March 2006, the company is led by pallet and supply chain veterans with decades of experience. iGPS (www.igps.net) is headquartered in Orlando, FL.

Source: http://www.biocompare.com/

gfiguerog@gmail.com (Guillermo Figueroa Gronemeyer) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:35:00 +0000

Results reveal the overall European Union prevalence of Salmonella-positive holdings with breeding pigs was 31.8%.
Salmonella is a major cause of food-borne illness in humans. Farm animals and foods of animal origin are important sources of human Salmonella infections. Therefore, in order to reduce the incidence of human salmonellosis in the European Union, Community legislation foresees the setting of Salmonella reduction targets for food/animal populations, including breeding pigs. To underpin such targets, a series of baseline surveys have been conducted to ascertain the occurrence prior to the implementation of such Community legislation. This fifth European Union-wide baseline survey was carried out at farm level between January 2008 and December 2008 to determine the prevalence of Salmonella in pig breeding holdings. The herds were randomly selected from holdings constituting at least 80% of the breeding pig population in a Member State.
The overall European Union prevalence of Salmonella-positive holdings with breeding pigs was 31.8% and all but one participating Member State detected Salmonella in at least one holding. Twenty of the 24 Member States isolated Salmonella in breeding holdings and at European Union level 28.7% of the holdings was estimated to be positive for Salmonella. This prevalence varied from 0% to 64.0% among the Member States. The estimated European Union prevalence of breeding holdings positive to Salmonella Typhimurium and to Salmonella Derby was 7.8% and 8.9%, respectively.
Salmonella infection in breeding pigs may be transmitted to slaughter pigs through trade and movement of live animals and contamination of holding, transport, lairage and slaughter facilities. This may lead to Salmonella-contamination of pig meat and consequently to human disease. Further studies in surveillance and control methods for Salmonella in breeding pigs as well as in the public health importance of consumption of meat from culled breeding pigs are recommended. Also investigations on the epidemiology of monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium would be welcome. The results of this survey provide valuable information for the assessment of the impact of Salmonella transmission originating from holdings with breeding pigs as a source of Salmonella in the food chain. These baseline prevalence figures may be used for the setting of targets for the reduction of Salmonella in breeding pigs, to follow trends and to evaluate the impact of control programmes.
Source: EFSA

Breakthrough test to detect toxigenic Staphylococcus aureus in foods

gfiguerog@gmail.com (Guillermo Figueroa Gronemeyer) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:03:00 +0000

The immunologic test is sensitive and allows detecting SEA in shorter time with low cost
A new test to detect a S. aureus, a pathogen that is a leading cause of food-poisoning is cheaper, faster and significantly more sensitive than existing assays, said the US body behind the breakthrough.
The USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) announced the development of an advanced test to identify staphylococcal enterotoxin A, or SEA, a major cause of food-borne illness across the globe.
The assay will give food manufacturers another way of ensuring the safety of their products and help public officials trace the source of food poisoning outbreaks.
One billion: The new test can detect the toxin at levels one billion times lower than the current gold standard assay for SEA. Experiments on chicken, beef and milk demonstrated the assay reliably distinguishes active from inactive toxin and yields reproducible results.
The test works by “taking advantage” of the fact SEA toxin has a double life. Besides causing a range of gastroenteritis symptoms, SEA also acts as a superantigen - a molecule that activates large numbers of immune-system cells.
“The assay neatly exploits this trait by measuring proliferation of splenocytes, which are immune system cells produced in the spleen,” said the ARS statement. “For the assay, the cells are kept alive in laboratory petri dishes.”
Practical and affordable: The ARS said the turnaround time of 48 hours for the SEA test is “comparatively fast”. Currently, regulatory agencies generally need to culture a bacterial contaminant before issuing a recall – which can take 3-5 days, said the spokeswoman. The new process is practical, said the body. Experienced technicians can quickly learn how to perform the test using standard laboratory equipment.
It is also cheaper than current tests. Using immunomagnetic beads that capture and concentrate the toxin, the cost of the assay is $ 3.88 per assay, which makes it affordable. The new assay is quantitative, reproducible and does not require lab animals,” added the ARS spokeswoman.
Source: FoodProductionDaily.com

Heinz recalls baby cereal on mycotoxin contamination fears

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Troncoso) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:57:00 +0000

Heinz has issued a recall of some of its baby food in Canada on fears it may be contaminated with elevated levels of a mycotoxin.
The food giant raised the alarm late last week as it issued a statement through the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) warning the public not to eat Heinz Mixed Cereals that could be tainted with Ochratoxin A (OTA). The company said no other products or cereal varieties were affected.
Refund
Heinz, based in North York, Ontario, said the affected products were Mixed Baby Cereal, Stage 2, 227g packs for infants aged over six months, with best before dates of 26 and 29 December 2010. The products have a UPC 0 57000 02516 8 and product code of BB/MA 10 DE 26 and BB/MA 10 DE 29.
The firm said there had been no reported illness associated with consumption of the baby cereal as it issued the voluntary recall.
Ochratoxin A is a mycotoxin produced by some fungi that can grow in certain food crops such as grains, grapes and coffee beans. Ochratoxin A has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a possible human carcinogen. It is one of the most common food-contaminating mycotoxins.
No short-term health risk
The CFIA said the named Heinz products should not be consumed but that if children had eaten the cereal no further action was necessary as “even the highest levels of ochratoxin A found in these products are not high enough to pose a health risk when consumed as part of a normal diet over the short term”.
A Heinz spokeswoman told FoodProductionDaily.com that the contamination had not occurred at its Leamington plant as OTA occurs at field level and not during production or processing.
“All Heinz products undergo a rigorous ingredient and finished product testing program and only a small number of packages of one specific variety produced on two days was affected”, she added.

Aporte :Leidy Beltrán
Fuente: Food Quality News http://www.foodqualitynews.com/Food-Alerts/Heinz-recalls-baby-cereal-on-mycotoxin-contamination-fears?utm_source=RSS_text_news

Listeriosis: una enfermedad que ha resurgido en Europa

gfiguerog@gmail.com (Guillermo Figueroa Gronemeyer) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:28:00 +0000

Los alimentos listos para el consumo son los de mayor riesgo
En la Comunidad Europea (CE) las tasas de listeriosis se mantuvieron estables entre 1996 y 2002, pero a partir del 2003 hubo un incremento de los casos reportados, en especial de listeriosis bacterémica en mayores de 65 años. En el 2007 en 26 países de la CE se reportó 1554 casos de listeriosis, es decir 0,3 casos por 100.000 personas. Los alimentos involucrados en los brotes fueron principalmente el queso blando y las carnes listas para el consumo.
Las causas de este fenómeno son desconocidas, no parece originarse por cambios demográficos o de comportamiento del consumidor. Algunas teorías sugieren que se debería a prácticas comerciales que producen efectos en el procesamiento, distribución y preparación de los alimentos. Una hipótesis es que la reducción del contenido de sal de las carnes listas para el consumo, pudiera ser relevante. La reducción del 20% de la sal de las carnes listas para el consumo se implementó por recomendación de las Agencias de Inocuidad Alimentaria el 2002, para prevenir la hipertensión arterial.
Un estudio austriaco demostró un 4,8% de Listeria monocytogenes en carnes listas para el consumo en supermercados, especialmente en los pescados y mariscos. Además se encontró un 1,7% a nivel de hogares. Los grupos etarios mas afectados fueron los hogares de mayores de 65 años. La tipificación por PFGE reveló una alta variabilidad dentro las cepas recolectadas. Esto refuerza la necesidad de control de los alimentos que permiten la multiplicación de Listeria monocytogenes hasta alcanzar la dosis mínima infecciosa arbitraria, de 10⁵ UFC por gramo de alimento.
Aunque la exposición a Listeria monocytogenes no puede ser abolida completamente, la preparación y almacenamiento adecuando del alimento puede disminuir los riesgos. Las mujeres embarazadas y personas inmunocomprometidas deben ser informadas para evitar el consumo de quesos sin pasteurizar, salmón ahumado, cecinas, delicatessen y otros alimentos listos para el consumo, que aumentan su riego por su alta manipulación en la elaboración y venta, ya que el patógeno no se elimina si no hay cocción. Evitar la contaminación cruzada y la implementación de Programas de Vigilancia de Enfermedades son alternativas de alto impacto en la reducción de la listeriosis. Asimismo es importante poner en marcha la caracterización rutinaria de las cepas humanas, de alimentos y del medio ambiente mediante el uso de métodos moleculares (PFGE) y bases de datos globales accesibles vía Internet.
Fuente: European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 2009
Aporte: Claudia Foester

UK flags new rules to strengthen meat traceability

gfiguerog@gmail.com (Guillermo Figueroa Gronemeyer) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:12:00 +0000

New responsibilities for livestock keepers in the meat production chain.
New supply chain regulations designed to beef up the ‘farm to fork’ traceability of cattle, sheep and goats sent to slaughter will come into force in the UK early next year.
Slaughterhouse operators and livestock keepers will be obliged to provide Food Chain Information (FCI) for all cattle sheep and goats from 1 January 2010 under new EU legislation. The regulation will apply to all those animals sent either directly to slaughter or sold through livestock markets.
The FSA cautioned that once the new rules come into force, meat from cattle, sheep or goats without FCI information will not be passed for human consumption, as it urged slaughterhouse operators to prepare for the changes now.
Food Chain Information: FCI is information about the health of the animals being sent for slaughter, and other information relevant to the safety of meat derived from them. It includes data about medicines the animals have been given.
The rules already been progressively applied across other species; poultry in 2006, pigs 2008 and calves and horses this year.
“The new rules are an important part of 'farm-to-fork' food safety controls and highlight the food safety responsibilities of livestock keepers in the meat production chain,” said a FSA statement. “The information about slaughter animals that is passed from the farm to the slaughterhouse can be used by operators and Official Veterinarians (OV) to make decisions about processing and inspection procedures.”
Documentation: The agency said it did not believe the change in law would cause difficulties as livestock farmers should already have the information required. It added the system will contribute to slaughterhouse operators’ HACCP-based food safety management systems by giving information about animals to be slaughtered.
FCI is also used by the Meat Hygiene Service to help it make decisions about meat and can be used to determine inspection procedures for animals and groups of animals.
The legislation does not lay down how slaughterhouses should receive FCI and operators can choose a format that best suits their business. Animal movement documents in Scotland will remain unchanged.
The minimum amount of FCI data that must be provided has been agreed between the FSA and industry players. Documents outlining these can be downloaded via web link.
Source: FoodQuality news.com

El Cobre en la prevención de enfermedades

noreply@blogger.com (Fernanda Astudillo) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:54:00 +0000

Numerosas publicaciones y estudios demuestran las propiedades antimicrobianas del cobre frente a bacterias, virus y hongos.

Desde los antiguos Griegos y Egipcios que se tienen registros del uso de este metal para tratar infecciones o para el tratamiento del agua de consumo. La EPA confirmó recientemente que el cobre como una alternativa al aluminio y otros metales en la construcción de superficies y otros sistemas. Es el caso de la utilización de cobre usado en las superficies de contacto de los hospitales podría contribuir al descenso de las infecciones intrahospitalarias causadas por agentes bacterianos.
Un estudio publicado en el mes de Septiembre en la revista Letters in Applied Microbiology incorpora a lo ya descrito la efectividad del cobre como agente antifúngico, información que podría ser usada en la construcción de nuevos sistemas de aire acondicionado capaces de eliminar los la contaminación con hongos y prevenir con ello la diseminación de sus esporas en los ambientes hospitalarios. Los autores demostraron que el cobre inhibía esporas de hongos patógenos, Aspergillus sp, Fusarium sp y Candida albicans, en las superficies de contacto en varios tiempos de exposición, desde 3 horas hasta 24 días. Por el contrario la germinación de las esporas continuó cuando éstas se pusieron en contacto con superficies de aluminio.
Los resultados mostraron que el contacto delas esporas con la superficie de cobre afectó a todas las especies de hongos analizadas, con la excepción del hongo Aspergillus, aún luego de 24 días de exposición.

Muchos estudios han demostrado que los sistemas de aire acondicionado en los hospitales, cuando no se mantienen en buenas condiciones de limpieza e higiene, pueden contribuir al aumento de las enfermedades intrahospitalarias. En estos casos podría reemplazarse aquellas partes de aluminio por cobre y hacer más efectivos los métodos de limpieza y sanitización de estos aparatos para prevenir lla multiplicación de hongos y sus esporas con potencial patogénico para pacientes usualmente con sistema de inmunidad deprimida.

FUENTE: Letters in Applied Microbiology 50 (2010), 18-23.

Clostridium difficile in food—innocent bystander or serious threat?

noreply@blogger.com (Cristian Lopez H) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:28:00 +0000

Clostridium difficile is a critically important cause of disease in humans, particularly in hospitalized individuals.

Three major factors have raised concern about the potential for this pathogen to be a cause of foodborne disease: the increasing recognition of community-associated C. difficile infection, recent studies identifying C. difficile in food animals and food, and similarities in C. difficile isolates from animals,food and humans. It is clear that C. difficile can be commonly found in food animals and food in many regions, and that strains important in human infections, such as ribotype 027/NAP1/toxinotype III and ribotype 078/toxinotype V, are often present.

However, it is currentlyunclear whether ingestion of contaminated food can result in colonization or infection. Many questions remain unanswered regarding the role of C. difficile in community-associated diarrhoea: its source when it is a food contaminant, the infective dose, and the association between ingestion of contaminated food and disease. The significant role of this pathogen in human disease and its potential emergence as an important community-associated pathogen indicate that careful evaluation of different sources of exposure, including food, is required, but determination of the potential role of food in C. difficile infection may be difficult.

Fuente: Clinical Microbiology and Infection

UK increase in Salmonella cases– with eggs imported from Spain investigated as one possible source.

gfiguerog@gmail.com (Guillermo Figueroa Gronemeyer) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:46:00 +0000

Since 2009 EU states are obliged to test Salmonella in laying flocks
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Health Protection Agency (HPA) confirmed a total of 443 cases of Salmonella Enteritidis phage type (PT) 14b have been reported since the start of the year, compared to 137 occurrences in the whole of 2008. Investigations are also underway into a possible link with two deaths.
The agencies have launched a probe into 14 infection clusters since August – involving 144 cases - to find out if there is a common source for the illnesses. All the clusters have been associated with a number of catering establishments and one care home. During the care home outbreak, two elderly people died. Inquests have been ordered to find the cause of death after post-mortem results were “inconclusive”.
Imported eggs?: The agencies are examining a theory the clusters may be linked to eggs imported into the UK but stressed there was no conclusive evidence yet to support this. This was confirmed by the distinguishing egg stamp mark on shell eggs, said the body. Two subsequent samplings of eggs supplied by this producer from a UK distributor found infected eggs in two out of 80 and 1 out of 20 tests respectively.
EU regulations: Since January 2009, all EU states have been obliged to introduce a Salmonella National Control Programme and carry out testing for Salmonella in laying flocks. The aim of the initiative is to reduce the incidence of salmonella in laying flocks and the egg market but regulators recognise it cannot stamp out infections completely.
Under the regulations, eggs from flocks testing positive for Salmonella - specifically S. Enteritidis or S. Typhimurium - cannot be sold directly to consumers and are instead sent for pasteurisation.
The FSA cautioned that it was impossible to guarantee that any egg will be free of Salmonella and stressed the importance of safe storage, preparation and cooking of the products.
Source: FoodQualityNews.com

Chicken survey finds two-thirds harbour Salmonella and/or Campylobacter

gfiguerog@gmail.com (Guillermo Figueroa Gronemeyer) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:50:00 +0000

A consumer survey has found bacterial pathogens in chickens tested in the US.
Consumer Reports assessed 382 chickens from 100 stores in its regular survey of chicken safety and found Campylobacter in 62 per cent, Salmonella in 14 per cent, and both bacteria in 14 per cent.
A total of 34 per cent of birds were clean of both pathogens, which is double the figure found in 2007, but Consumer Reports did not find this cause for celebration.
Modest improvement: The consumer watchdog called it a “modest improvement” and said the number of clean birds was still far smaller than the 51 per cent identified in 2003. “The numbers are still far too high, especially for Campylobacter,” said Consumer Reports.
To support the case it quoted figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, indicating that salmonella and campylobacter from food sources infect 3.4m Americans a year, resulting in 25,500 hospital cases, and 500 deaths.
Among the 382 chickens tested in the latest report, air chilled birds were the cleanest, with 40 per cent carrying pathogens. Air chilling is a poultry processing technique, whereby birds are hung by shackles and moved through coolers with rapidly moving air, rather than being dunked in cold chlorinated water.
For the first time, Consumer Reports found one major brand, Perdue’s, which fared significantly better than others. It said 56 per cent of the chickens were free of Salmonella and Campylobacter. This compared with 20 per cent in the two poorest performing brands, Tyson and Foster Farms.
Industry response: Responding to the survey, the National Chicken Council, which represents chicken producers and processors, insisted that chicken is safe. It said raw chicken may have some microorganisms present, but that these are destroyed by the heat of normal cooking.

Source: FoodQualityNews.com

Protocolo SAG- INDAP sobre inocuidad alimentaria

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Troncoso) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:07:00 +0000

Acuerdo busca nivelar la producción de los pequeños productores para mejorar sus estándares de inocuidad y de esta forma llegar a diferentes mercados en el exterior.
Un protocolo de acuerdo sobre inocuidad alimentaria suscribieron esta semana el Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG), el Instituto de Desarrollo Agropecuario (INDAP), dependientes del Ministerio de Agricultura y la Agencia Chilena para la Inocuidad Alimentaria (ACHIPIA).
El documento, firmado en la Feria EXPO MUNDO RURAL, contó con la rúbrica de Hernán Rojas, director de INDAP; Oscar Concha, Secretario General del SAG; y Nidia Contardo en representación de ACHIPIA.
Las instituciones firmantes se comprometen a trabajar para que los pequeños productores agrícolas nivelen su producción de manera tal que alcancen los estándares exigidos para poder exportar.
Óscar Concha señalo que para el SAG este protocolo se inscribe en la continuación del trabajo que el Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero viene realizando con todos los sectores del agro. Ejemplo de ello son los PABCO (planteles bovinos bajo control oficial) y que están en la línea de convertir a Chile en Potencia Agrícola y Forestal. Chile tiene una larga tradición y experiencia exportadora y garantizamos que nuestros productos son sanos e inocuos para quienes los ingieren. La firma de este protocolo revela la importancia que le damos a este tema.
Por su parte, el Director de INDAP, Hernán Rojas señaló que para los pequeños productores es fundamental alcanzar los estándares de inocuidad necesarios. Y debemos encontrar la fórmula para adecuar la norma sin disminuir los estándares exigidos por los Ministerios de Salud y de Agricultura, cómo darles apoyo para alcanzar dichos estándares.

Aporte: Pamela Ubilla

Microbiological Risk: Do you really need to test raw materials for pathogens?

gfiguerog@gmail.com (Guillermo Figueroa Gronemeyer) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:20:00 +0000

Many companies are in a survival mode and need to reduce costs and improve efficiencies wherever possible. One area that seems straightforward is testing raw materials for microbial integrity. Why bother? Won’t the manufacturing process kill any microbes that might be residing in the materials? Possibly, yes. But what about an organism that survives, contaminates a product and causes a patient to die?
Is your company prepared to accept the consequences of the FDA, lawyers and families demanding restitution? Is your company ready to thwart the assault from the media? How long can your company survive if it has to recall its products and shut down for months before it can start producing again? Are risky cost reductions too risky? Find out the real implications of saving a few cents and if it’s truly worth the risk.
Obama administration sent recently a bill reinforcing sampling schedule and controls to improve food safety and reduce consumer concerns. Raw materials are receiving tremendous scrutiny from the FDA and other regulatory agencies around the world and have been earmarked as a potential source of uncertainty in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, nutritional supplements and cosmetics.
However a prevailing thought is that the processing steps of manufacturing are severe enough to eradicate most microorganisms that may be present in the raw materials. So why worry about the raw materials? Why test them if the manufacturing process will eliminate them?
Many evidences and reasons why it's in the best interest of a company to test their raw materials: not only from a regulatory perspective but also from a safety and sound business perspective.
Source: Compliance on line

Salmonella Detection in Peanut Butter: Validation of a Real-Time PCR Method

gfiguerog@gmail.com (Guillermo Figueroa Gronemeyer) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:23:00 +0000

Salmonella Detection Kit was validated for samples containing peanut butter in response to a Salmonella outbreak in the USA caused by contaminated peanut butter with more than 700 infected persons, 9 deaths and a recall of more than 3,900 food products.

BIOTECON Diagnostics and Merck KGaA participated in an AOAC Emergency Response Validation with their real-time PCR kit for the rapid detection of Salmonella in food samples containing peanut butter.

Two validation studies were carried out with peanut butter spiked with different levels of Salmonella serovar Typhimurium. This technical paper shows that the performance of the foodproof® Salmonella Detection Kit in combination with the foodproof® ShortPrep I Kit for DNA extraction is equivalent to the FDA BAM reference method.
Source: FoodQuality.com

US food safety bill enters final lap

gfiguerog@gmail.com (Guillermo Figueroa Gronemeyer) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:08:00 +0000

Bill highlights: the FDA would be required to check high-risk plants annually
The legislation would introduce a raft of measures designed to significantly improve the US food safety system. It requires all facilities that manufacture, process, pack or hold food to have risk-based preventive control plans in place to tackle to hazards and prevent adulteration. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must be given access to these documents. Restaurants and most farms are exempt from this rule.

Importers must verify the safety of foreign suppliers and imported food. The FDA can demand certification for high-risk foods, and to deny entry to a food that lacks certification or that is from a foreign facility that has refused US inspectors.

The bill would impose a new inspection regime. The FDA would be required to check high-risk plants annually and others every four years.

Under the proposals, the FDA would have the authority to order a mandatory recall of a food product if there is serious health risk or death, and if the company had failed to carry out a FDA request for a voluntarily recall. The agency can detain adulterated or misbranded food.

The FDA would receive greater funding both from the government and controversially by levying inspection fees from food processors and manufacturers. The industry contribution proposal is now in doubt following yesterday's meeting.

The approval by the HELP bipartisan Committee was welcomed by a host of consumer and industry groups including the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).

Source: FoodqualityNews.com

Bill to ban bisphenol A tabled in US

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Troncoso) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:09:00 +0000

New legislation that would impose a nationwide ban on bisphenol A (BPA) in all food packaging products used by children.
The New York politician this week unveiled the BPA-Free Kids Act that would outlaw the chemical in packing for children aged three and under. It would also strengthen enforcement measures "across the nation" and include stiffer penalties for manufacturers, importers and stores that flout the regulations laid down in the bill. The law would require testing of materials used to manufacture plastic containers to ensure finished containers are BPA-free
BPA levels in canned food
Schumer said he was introducing the proposal in the wake of a report by the Consumer Union which said it had found higher than previously thought levels of BPA in a range of canned food.
“This Consumer Reports’ study adds to the mounting evidence that BPA is not only harmful for our children but for an overwhelming majority of Americans,” said Schumer. “We need to keep this dangerous chemical out of the food chain.”
BPA is used in polycarbonate baby bottles, children’s sippy cups and in the epoxy resin lining of food cans. Since 1997, over 100 published studies have documented adverse effects in animals caused by exposure to low levels of BPA, said the Senator. Mounting concern from both consumers and politicians in the US has seen the substance banned in some states and major baby bottle manufacturers and retailers pledge to use BPA-free products only.
The chemical industry has stated it believes the product is safe for use in food packaging and points to the approval for this by the world’s major food safety agencies, including the FDA and the EFSA.
Legislation
The Schumer bill would impose a ban 180 days after being passed into law. It would also set out proposals for mandatory testing and certification by both plastics and container manufacturers to confirm products aimed at children were BPA-free. Test data from plastic suppliers and container manufacturers would be audited by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which would also sample relevant food containers on the sale to the public.
The regulation would also impose the need for clear labelling that the product was BPA-free.
Under the proposals, children’s food and beverage containers containing BPA would be considered a banned hazardous substance under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA), with possible criminal or civil penalties a consequence of any breach in terms of testing, certification, and labeling requirements.

Aporte: Miriam Troncoso

Fuente:www.foodqualitynews.com

La EFSA (European Food Safety Autorithy) re-evaluó IDA para seis colorantes de los alimentos

gfiguerog@gmail.com (Guillermo Figueroa Gronemeyer) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:22:00 +0000

Los resultados sugieren, sin embargo, que ellos no causan hiperactividad en niños.
Después de revisar toda la evidencia disponible, el panel de científicos sobre aditivos del EFSA, ha reducido la ingesta diaria admisible (IDA) para los colorantes artificiales de alimentos: Amarillo de quinoleína (E104), Amarillo ocaso (E110) y Ponceau 4R (E124), ya que concluyeron que la exposición a estos colores puede exceder del nuevo IDA, tanto para adultos como niños.
En la evaluación de otros tres colorantes: Tartrazina (E102), Azorrubina/carmoisina (E122) y Allura red AC (E129), el grupo consideró que no requieren un cambio en el IDA existente, sólo algunos niños que consumen grandes cantidades de alimentos y bebidas que contienen estos colorantes podrían superar el IDA para estos colorantes.
Los seis colores re-evaluados por el Grupo pueden ser utilizado en una amplia gama de productos alimenticios como las bebidas gaseosas, productos de pastelería y postres. El Grupo llegó a la conclusión que el colorante tartrazina, puede provocar reacciones de intolerancia, tales como irritaciones de la piel, en una pequeña parte de la población.
La EFSA está evaluando la seguridad de todos los distintos aditivos alimentarios que han sido aprobados para su uso en la UE, partiendo por los colorantes alimentarios. La Comisión Europea pidió a la EFSA considerar estos seis colores como una prioridad después de un estudio publicado por la Universidad de Southampton (McCann et al) en 2007 - el llamado "estudio de Southampton", por la vinculación de determinadas mezclas de estos colorantes y el conservante benzoato de sodio con la hiperactividad en los niños, sin embargo John Larsen señaló que con la información disponible, incluido el estudio Southampton, no demostró una relación causal entre los colorantes individuales y los posibles efectos sobre el comportamiento.
Fuente: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/
Aporte: Rosa Tapia

Risk of infant, fetal mortality from Listeria higher than believed

gfiguerog@gmail.com (Guillermo Figueroa Gronemeyer) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:04:00 +0000

Listeria monocytogenes could present a high risk to unborn babies and infants at significantly lower bacterial counts.
The study from the University of Georgia, in the United States, found the risk of foetal or infant mortality among pregnant woman who eat food containing one million cells of the food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes in soft cheeses and other foods is estimated at about 50 per cent. This suggests that five stillbirths could occur when ten pregnant women are exposed to that amount of the bacteria.
Risks at lower bacterial levels
Previous assessments of the hazard estimated that such a miscarriage rate would likely only be reached by exposure to more than 10 trillion Listeria cells. This means that such rates of infants and foetus’ deaths could occur at levels 10 million times less than previously thought, according to the results.
“We’re not saying there’s a new epidemic here, we’re suggesting we’ve come up with a more accurate method of measuring the risk and how this deadly bacteria impacts humans, especially the most medically vulnerable among us,” said study co-author Mary Alice Smith, Ph.D.

The researchers declared their estimates by extrapolating from test results on laboratory animals, such as guinea pigs, to conclude “Listeriosis is likely occurring from exposure to lower doses than previously estimated”.

The analysis also “shows studies using animal test subjects with physiologies more comparable to humans are more promising for future pathogen research endeavours”, they added.
Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogen sometimes found in soft cheeses made from unpasteurised milk and in processed, ready-to-eat foods such as deli meats, smoked seafood, and raw foods. The pathogen also has been found in pasteurized and refrigerated foods, such as pasteurized fluid milk and soft-ripened cheeses. Listeriosis rarely results in sickness among healthy groups buts can have serious consequences for the medically vulnerable such as the elderly, fetus, infants and those with a weakened immune system.

Source: FoodQualityNews.com

Antimicrobials: Silver and Copper bullets to kill Bacteria

gfiguerog@gmail.com (Guillermo Figueroa Gronemeyer) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:47:00 +0000

Zeolite ceramic structures covered with thin films of copper and silver reduce the amount of microbes present on the hospital surfaces.

Dana Filoti of the University of New Hampshire will present thin films of silver and copper she has developed that can kill bacteria and may one day help to cut down on hospital infections. The antimicrobial properties of silver and copper have been known for centuries -- last year, the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency officially registered copper alloys, allowing them to be marketed with the label "kills 99.9% of bacteria within two hours." Copper ions are known to penetrate bacteria and disrupt molecular pathways important for their survival.
Using zeolite ceramic structures, Filoti is testing the hypothesis that the combination of silver and copper might work synergistically to better kill bacteria, work that she will present on November 12 at a meeting of the scientific society AVS in San Jose. "The hard ceramic structure looks like Swiss cheese and inside the holes there are ions of silver and copper," says Filoti.
By experimenting with the ratio of the two metals and the texture of the thin films, she has been able to reduce the amount of microbes present on the surface by 99 percent. One application of these antimicrobials, which Filoti is developing in partnership with a company in New Hampshire, is an antimicrobial face mask designed to protect against pathogens that cause many hospital-acquired infections.

Source: American Institute of Physics http://www.avssymposium.org/Open/SearchPapers.aspx?PaperNumber=TF-ThM-9

FDA calls meeting to improve food traceability systems (06-Nov-2009)

gfiguerog@gmail.com (Guillermo Figueroa Gronemeyer) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:20:00 +0000

Federal agencies in the United States need to increase the speed and accuracy of traceability systems to combat outbreaks of food-borne illnesses, said the FDA as it called a public meeting on the matter.

Changes in industry practices and customer preferences as well as the increase in food shipped into the US from overseas have also heightened the need to upgrade both traceback investigations and traceforward operations.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the meeting will also look at gaps in current product tracing methods, the core elements of an effective structure and mechanisms to boost traceability systems both in the short and long term. Establishing effective documentation in the supply chain to ensure traceability has been highlighted as a major goal.
Public meeting
The meeting could also help the FDA and Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) improve their ability to use information in new systems to identify the source of contaminations during outbreaks of food-borne illness, said a notice from the agencies.

Developing the ability of all those in the supply chain to more quickly spot food that is- or may be - contaminated and to remove it from the market is another goal of the meeting, added the FDA.

Se firmó el proyecto de ley que crea el Sistema y la Agencia Chilena para la inocuidad Alimentaria

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Troncoso) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:43:00 +0000

Iniciativa convertiría a Chile en una potencia Agroalimentaría

Hoy 2 de Noviembre se firmó el proyecto de ley que crea el Sistema y la Agencia Chilena para la inocuidad Alimentaria, en una ceremonia realizada en el Palacio de La Moneda.
La Presidenta de la República, Michelle Bachelet en su discurso previo a la firma destacó que "contar con un sistema nacional de control de alimentos es una condición esencial para proteger la salud de la población" y agregó que "ha sido un claro objetivo de su Gobierno, y así lo entiende el sector agrícola y el proyecto que acabamos de firmar va en esa dirección".
Explicó además que "estamos cumpliendo un compromiso de actualizar un aspecto fundamental de nuestra institucionalidad alimentaria, estrechamente ligada a un propósito que definiéramos hace algún tiempo, cual es que podamos consolidar a Chile como una potencia agroalimentaria, como un país productor de alimentos y que se proyecte como una potencia mundial en este rubro".
La Mandataria destacó que es fundamental "que las personas tengan la seguridad de que los alimentos que consumen han sido sometidos a estrictos mecanismos de control y seguimiento a lo largo de todo el proceso de elaboración, tanto de los alimentos producidos en nuestro país, como de aquellos que puedan prevenir de terceros países".
La Presidenta explicó que en la perspectiva de convertir a Chile en una potencia alimentaria, se deben garantizar alimentos seguros y saludables para Chile, pero también para el mundo y con la creación de este Sistema y de la Agencia para la Inocuidad Alimentaria, "estamos siguiendo la línea que han adoptado los países desarrollados respondiendo a recomendaciones de organismos internacionales como la FAO y como la OMS, de promover sistemas nacionales de control de alimentos que estén basados, en principios de carácter científico por un lado y que incorpore, por el otro, a todos los sectores de la cadena alimentaria".
En este sentido agregó que los principios que van a sustentar el Sistema son "el resguardo del derecho a la protección de la salud y a una alimentación inocua y saludable, la búsqueda de un desarrollo competitivo y a la vez responsable, la garantía de transparencia y participación, la toma de decisiones basada en información y evidencia científica y el cumplimiento de las obligaciones en el ámbito internacional".
El proyecto establece además la responsabilidad de los productores, elaboradores y comercializadores en materia de inocuidad alimentaria y para ello define el control del proceso y la trazabilidad.
En esta línea la Mandataria afirmó que "lo mismo ocurrirá con las responsabilidades de los organismos públicos, quienes asegurarán el cumplimiento de las políticas, principios y normas aplicables en esta materia. Entonces podemos afirmar que esta iniciativa constituye un gran avance en la perspectiva de convertir a Chile en una potencia mundial en el campo de los alimentos".
Cabe destacar que la Agencia funcionará bajo la supervigilancia del Presidente de la República a través de la Secretaría General de la Presidencia. Contará con una Dirección Nacional, un Consejo Consultivo y un Comité Científico Asesor. Sin perjuicio de lo anterior, habrá un Consejo Directivo para la Inocuidad Alimentaria, encargada de proponer al Presidente de la República las políticas sobre inocuidad y de ejercer las demás atribuciones que se indican en el proyecto.

Fuente: http://www.achipia.cl/

Listeria biofilm under attack from new disinfectant

gfiguerog@gmail.com (Guillermo Figueroa Gronemeyer) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:16:00 +0000

This disinfectant can remove biofilms containing Listeria monocytognes from meat processing facilities

Listeria monocytogenes can thrive on the work surfaces of meat processing plants because it can withstand low temperatures and can even grow in or on refrigerated foods. The hardy pathogen is also a serious public health problem.
According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), L. monocytogenes causes serious illness in 2,500 people a year, resulting in 500 deaths.
“Results showed that the formulation was 100 percent effective, providing total kill and more than 90 percent biofilm removal,” said Arnold. “Test evaluations also resulted in instructions for use that will meet USDA ‘zero tolerance’ regulations for L. monocytogenes.”
Summing up the results, Arnold said: “This disinfectant is more effective than currently used disinfectants in reducing L. monocytogenes biofilm growth, thus minimizing the risk of pathogenic contamination.”
Biofilms have more opportunity than ever before to develop in meat and poultry, according to ARS. Despite increased concern over safety, modern production techniques and preservatives have resulted in additional contamination risks.
“Today’s longer production runs provide more opportunity for biofilms to establish themselves, and today’s longer shelf life adds to the risk of biological contamination,” Arnold.
Fuente: http://www.foodqualitynews.com/
Aporte: Claudia Villarroel

Arsénico en alimentos y agua.

noreply@blogger.com (Fernanda Astudillo) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:18:00 +0000

En Chile la norma NCh. 409/1 indica que el nivel máximo de arsénico en agua potable debe ser de 0,05 mg/L mientras que la OMS, a través del codex alimentarius es más estricta, permitiendo un máximo de 0,01 mg/L.

El arsénico parece ser un problema serio en todo el mundo. La ciudad de Antofagasta en nuestro país es el mayor ejemplo de contaminación del agua potable con graves problemas en la salud de su población. En el año 1958 los niveles de arsénico en el agua de Antofagasta alcanzaron niveles de 0.8 mg/L de agua, 16 veces mayor que lo permitido actualmente por la Norma Chilena. En la actualidad, la empresa Aguas Antofagasta dice haber reducido los niveles de arsénico a 0.01 mg/L, cumpliendo así con lo recomendado por la Organización Mundial de la Salud aún cuando la normativa chilena es más permisiva, aceptando 0.05 mg de arsénico por litro de agua.

En países europeos, la mayor fuente de exposición al arsénico son los alimentos. Recientemente, el panel científico CONTAM, de la European Food Safety Authority publicó un reporte científico que indica que los alimentos como cereales y productos derivados, agua embotellada, café y cerveza, arroz, pescado y vegetales son los que presentarían los mayores niveles de arsénico inorgánico, la forma en que se presenta el arsénico en la naturaleza más tóxica para el ser humano. Ellos estiman que los consumidores de grandes cantidades de arroz están expuestos a alrededor de 1 ug/Kg al día y los consumidores de algas marinas y derivados están expuestos a 4 ug/Kg al día. Dependiendo del tipo de procesamiento que tiene el alimento, la temperatura y el tiempo podría variar las concentraciones de arsénico en las comidas pero sin duda que el agua con la que cocinan estos alimentos determinaría si la concentración es más alta o más baja que los alimentos crudos o sin procesar.

En nuestro cuerpo, el arsénico inorgánico soluble es rápidamente absorbido después de la ingestión y es distribuido por la sangre a casi todos los órganos, incluso puede traspasar la barrera placentaria en la embarazadas. A largo plazo, la acumulación en nuestro organismo puede causar lesiones en la piel, cáncer, neurotoxicidad, enfermedades cardiovasculares, diabetes, etc.

FUENTE: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/ScientificPanels/efsa_locale-1178620753812_CONTAM.htm

Halloween Food Safety Tips for Parents

noreply@blogger.com (Fernanda Astudillo) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:16:00 +0000

Chile es un país que adoptó esta tradición hace bastante tiempo, por lo que no está demás tomar estas recomendaciones y consejos de la Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

1. Children shouldn’t snack while they’re out trick-or-treating. Urge your children to wait until they get home and you have had a chance to inspect the contents of their “goody bags.”

2. To help prevent children from snacking, give them a light meal or snack before they head out – don’t send them out on an empty stomach.

3. Tell children not to accept – and especially not to eat – anything that isn’t commercially wrapped.

4. Parents of very young children should remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies or small toys.

5. Inspect commercially wrapped treats for signs of tampering, such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers. Throw away anything that looks suspicious.

And follow these tips for Halloween parties at home

1. If juice or cider is served to children at Halloween parties, make sure it is pasteurized or otherwise treated to destroy harmful bacteria. Juice or cider that has not been treated will say so on the label.

2. No matter how tempting, don't taste raw cookie dough or cake batter.

3. Before going "bobbing for apples," an all-time favorite Halloween game, reduce the number of bacteria that might be present on apples and other raw fruits and vegetables by thoroughly rinsing them under cool running water. As an added precaution, use a produce brush to remove surface dirt.

4. "Scare" bacteria away by keeping all perishable foods chilled until serving time. These include, for example, finger sandwiches, cheese platters, fruit or tossed salads, cold pasta dishes with meat, poultry, or seafood, and cream pies or cakes with whipped-cream and cream-cheese frostings. Cold temperatures help keep most harmful bacteria from multiplying. And don't leave the food at room temperature for more than two-hours.

Fuente: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm188038.htm